When Pat’s hand moved towards his cock, Stanley lost his memory also. He loved living with Pat, they had so much in common, but her sexual urges had started to drive him beserk. Since he’d been sharing the same bed as Pat, she’d tried to initiate sex with him virtually every night and the problem was that Stanley was unable to stand to attention. Nothing would happen whatsoever when she touched him in that area and the more she tried to fondle his John Thomas, the more embarrassed he became. Stanley grabbed Pat’s hand, moved it away from his private parts and held it against his chest.

‘I’m sorry love, but it won’t work, you know it won’t work.’

Pat chuckled naughtily. She had a special surprise planned for Stanley tonight and that, she was sure, would get his engine running again.

‘Shall we have a can of bitter now, love?’ Stanley asked chirpily.

Pat stood up. ‘No, we’re not drinking today, so I’ll make us a nice pot of tea instead.’

‘Why can’t we have a proper drink?’ Stanley asked, perplexed.

‘Because that’s what’s causing your brewer’s droop. I’ve got a nice surprise for you tonight and if you drink beer you’re gonna spoil it.’

‘For fuck’s sake,’ Stanley mumbled as Pat walked out of the room. He then thought of Joycie and, for the first time since he’d left his wife, wondered if he had made a terrible mistake.

Eddie felt strange as he sat down next to Joey on his old sofa in what used to be his and Jessica’s living room. The photographs on the wall had changed and Joyce had added her own plants and ornaments, but other than that it was like going back in time.

Joyce was out in the kitchen making a brew and Joey, being perceptive, kind of guessed what his father was thinking. ‘Are you OK, Dad?’ he asked kindly.

Eddie nodded and, as Joyce walked back into the room with a tea tray, he forced himself to stop thinking about Jessica. Picturing her pretty face standing by the fireplace felt like a dagger piercing his heart.

‘So, how’s life without Stanley? Are you coping OK, Joycie?’

Joyce sat on the armchair opposite Eddie. ‘I’d forgotten all about the old bastard, to be honest. It’s a pain in the arse getting cabs and buses sometimes, but other than that I don’t miss the old goat at all,’ Joyce lied. Putting on a brave face was the only way she could cope with Stanley’s departure. The winter nights were lonely and sometimes never ending, but Joyce would never admit that she missed Stanley, not even to herself.